What are the 5 Basic rules of ice hockey ?

Ice hockey, game between 2 teams, each usually having 6 players, who wear skates & compete on an ice rink. Here are the Rules of ice hockey.

What are the 5 Basic rules of ice hockey ?

The origins of ice hockey date back to the 19th century in Canada where adaptations of the modern day hockey game were played in icy conditions.

Since then the sport has gone on to become one of the largest in the world with the major participants originating from North America.

The NHL (National Hockey League) is the largest league in the world and currently turns over millions of dollars each year.

At the competitive level, ice hockey has earned a reputation for being an aggressive sport due to the frequent body checks and other physical contact that occurs on the ice — but it’s not just a free-for-all where players can get away with what they like.

The rules state that contact from the side and front is fine, but deliberate checking (slowing or hindering an opponent) from behind will usually result in a penalty.

Tripping opponents and violently forcing players to hit the rink’s walls is banned, as is elbowing, charging, high use of the stick, and using the shaft of the stick to check an opponent.

Of course, the speed of the game means that many of these things occur, and so it’s up to the referee to decide whether an offenses has been committed and whether a penalty needs to be imposed.

5 Basic Rules of Ice Hockey

• The game starts in the centre circle with a face off. This is where the referee drops the puck in between two opposing players who then scrap to win position for their team. A faceoff may also be used to resume play after a stoppage in any of the attacking or defending face off zones.
• Players may use physical force to win the puck off their opponent. Body checking can be used but is not prohibited in the back or above shoulder height.
• Players who are imposed to have committed a minor penalty will be ordered to leave the ice for two minutes and their team play with 5 players for that duration. If the opposing team score a goal within those two minutes then that player can return to the rink immediately.
• A minor penalty can include tripping an opponent with their stick, holding with either their stick or hands, hooking with their stick or body checking a player without the puck.
• Major penalties will result in a player being removed from the ice for up to 5 minutes. These may include fighting, inflicting serious injury on opposing players or continued minor violations.

To win a game one team must score more goals than their opponents. If the game is a tie then the game goes into overtime and an additional quarter is played out until one of the teams score. The first team to score will be the winners.

What does Hockey Equipment need to Be Worn ?

Each hockey player must wear a helmet with a face-protecting mask.

Other required equipment includes shin guards, gloves, skates, hockey sticks, and goalie equipment for goalies. Referees will examine players before the start of the game to ensure that each player is properly protected in a violent sport.

There are three periods of play in a game that are usually 20 minutes each with stoppages due to whistles or penalties, etc. Most penalties are 2 minutes long but can sometimes be up to 4-5 minutes depending on the circumstances which we will review momentarily.

Another interesting rule in hockey is pulling the goalie. This most often occurs towards the end of a hockey game when the losing team is trying to increase their chances of scoring by acquiring an extra or 6th skater.

Additionally, subbing the goalie out for a skater happens during a delayed penalty when the whistle blows when the opposing team touches the puck.

As you can tell, hockey has many rules that determine the parameters and fairness of the game.

After reading this article, I hope that you are able to understand the game better and know what is happening in real time.